5th May 2017

Tearfund Latest Prayer Points

Spreading the

(peanut butter) love

Think peanut butter is nothing more than something you put on your toast? Think again. One woman from the Central African Republic has been using the humble spread to lift herself out of poverty and rediscover her strength.

Louise, who lives in the small village of Dana-Kobolé, is 70 years old and has 12 children and 23 grandchildren – that’s a lot of mouths to feed! When she was younger she worked alongside her husband cultivating large fields of peanuts, corn, courgette and plantain. They also used to raise chickens, ducks, goats and pigs.

From bad to worse

But after her husband’s death 15 years ago, Louise became physically weak and could no longer work in the fields. She had lost her only source of income.

Things then went from bad to worse. Her village was burned during the conflict in 2012-2013. Groups of armed men stripped the countryside, burning and looting property and assaulting men and women. Thankfully, Louise wasn’t harmed.

Fields became overgrown with weeds as they were unsafe to work in. Many people during this time lost the ability to grow food for themselves and feed their children.

We’re going to need a bigger jar…

Last year, in one project alone, Tearfund distributed vegetable seeds to 17,400 people like Louise, and also distributed tools such as hoes, watering cans and rakes. As a result, Louise and her family were able to harvest a whopping 187kg of peanuts.

She says: ‘I used some of the peanuts to make peanut butter, for the children to eat. I had to grind the peanuts with a pestle and mortar – it took hours, and all of my strength.’

As a widow, Louise was chosen to receive extra support. Tearfund provided Louise with a food mill to make it easier for her to make the peanut butter. Now she can sell the excess produce for profit at market, meaning more money for Louise, her children and her grandchildren.

Strong hands

One of Tearfund’s staff members tried the peanut butter. The verdict? ‘It’s amazing! Thick and crunchy... she boils the nuts before grinding them, so it’s naturally quite sweet and creamy.’

Louise says: ‘Throughout my whole life, I have never been able to afford a food mill to make peanut butter... But now I am overjoyed because Tearfund gave me this food mill. I thank God for this, because he is sending strong hands to an old woman.’

PLEASE PRAY

* Pray for widows the world over; That God will be their comforter and protector.

* Thank God that Louise has found this new lease of life, and pray that she will continue to grow in strength and joy for many more years.

* Lift up our staff and partners in the Central African Republic and ask for God’s protection and blessing on their amazing work.

'We are so thankful for all of your prayers, which enable us to support people like Louise. It's only thanks to our supporters that she's been able to rebuild her livelihood and make her delicious peanut butter.'

Poppy Barker

Programme Support Assistant, Central African Republic

PRAYER POINTS FROM

AROUND THE WORLD

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Prayer Item #1

Please pray for communities across Latin America, who are being increasingly affected by the El Nino weather phenomenon; particularly droughts in Brazil and Honduras, and floods in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.

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Prayer Item #2

In the Central African Republic (CAR), the conflict is becoming increasingly volatile. Retaliation attacks are becoming more frequent, bringing fear of an escalation in unrest. Please pray for peace. Pray that the work Tearfund has done in CAR to promote social cohesion will be strengthened and effective. Pray also for the safety of Tearfund staff and partners working in CAR.

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Prayer Item #3

The Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu is preparing for a severe tropical cyclone expected to hit this weekend. Tearfund has been involved in restoring livelihoods following the devastation of Cyclone Pam two years ago. Please pray for protection for the people and their crops, for ongoing resilience to these natural disasters.